KUCHING, March 21: The soon-to-be-launched ground breaking ceremony of Batang Lupar Bridge that is expected to be completed in 48 months will then put the Triso Ferry tragedy behind in the past.
“Once completed, the three ferry crossings at Batang Lupar Bridge where the ferry tragedy took the lives of nine people recently, will be a thing of the past,” said Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing.
He added the 5.1km long Batang Lupar Bridge is one of the nine major bridges in Sarawak that is now fully funded by Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government.
In order not to disappoint Sarawakians, he said the Sarawak government took over the RM848 million project that was originally promised by the Federal government of a 50-50 per cent cost sharing during Barisan Nasional (BN) administration.
“The Batang Lupar Bridge which will be built by GPS government will ensure seamless drive from Kuching to Miri with the length of about 900km.
“The travelling time between these two cities will be greatly reduced. It is GPS vision to create accessibility in Sarawak with or without Putrajaya’s assistance.
“We promise, we deliver,” he said in a statement today.
This coming Tuesday on March 23, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg will be launching the ground breaking ceremony with Masing, who is also Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development, and his Assistant Minister Datuk Julaihi Narawi on-site at the Triso island. — DayakDaily
